Signs on the Back of Semi Trailers

[GiovanniC]

Okay, I make a drive from south central Michigan to northern Kentucky about 1 to 3 times per month. Every time I make this commute, I see semi trailers from various companies that have a sign saying something along these lines:

"We ALWAYS Support Our American Troops.

No Aid and Comfort to the Enemy, Ever!"

Does anyone know what the hell that's all about? It's all over these semis but it's not just one particular company. Has there been a rash of semi drivers providing aid and comfort to the enemy?

Isn't this something that would normally go without saying?

[LynzM]

1. Nope, haven't seen that one...

I have a great Anti-Bush/Chickenhawk pic on a semi that I'll post later for 'ya, though :)

[punpirate]

2. Just marketing...

... taking advantage of the situation.

[wetbandit2003]

4. I dont think so...

People are free to express their thoughts
on their property as they see fit. Are you
going to shun sombody for their patriotism?

[Bouncy Ball]

5. You're getting patriotism mixed up with nationalism.

Look up nationalism, it's a very different thing and it's what we are seeing now.

Who had that great quote about patriotism being the last refuge of the scoundrel?

Hmmm.

[punpirate]

8. Samuel Johnson, I believe....

I more subscribe to Ambrose Bierce's twist on that: "I beg to submit that it is the first."

:)

[GiovanniC]

6. The Point Is That It's Like Me Putting Up a Sign in My Office

Saying "I do not rape racoon assholes with broken broom handles!"

It's like... did anyone say you did?

But I digress, because I don't think you're really interested in the premise, as someone who spews lies such as that Muslims didn't help countries affected by the tsunami and that poor people are poor because they want to be.

[punpirate]

7. Are they on corporate rigs...

... or independents? Ask yourself that.

Corporate opinion is PR. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise....

[GiovanniC]

11. The Thing With That, Though...

How much do these semi companies rely on marketing and PR, and are signs like these really all that effective? Maybe it's just that I don't have truckloads of freight to ship over-the-road or something, but I pay almost NO attention to what semi belongs to which company or anything like that.

[punpirate]

12. But... maybe the agents and companies...

... receiving shipments from them do. After all, all advertising is meant to suggest that one product or service is better than another, and is an almost wholly subjective process. If playing on an innate sense of patriotism might improve business, don't most businesses do that?

Ask yourself why almost every car lot in the country has red, white and blue bunting and signs everywhere, flags flying all over the place, etc.

Nationalism has been used to sell everything from napkins to cars to houses. Patriotism is simply, and especially these days, an adjunct of that nationalism.

Cheers.

[GiovanniC]

14. I Understand What You're Saying and Agree to an Extent

I'm just wondering how much a sign on the back of a semi trailer affects a purchasing decision for corporate over-the-road freight shipping. Maybe it does have an effect. I don't know. It just seems like a different animal from the red-white-blue ribbons on a car lot.

However, if this really does help, maybe I SHOULD prominently display my firm anti-raccoon-asshole-raping policy. Might be good for business.

[punpirate]

18. The red, white and blue, etc.,

... has become so ubiquitous that we barely notice it. That's why people notice new attempts to push an association with nationalism (such as new signs on trucks).

We really have become inured to advertising in this country--that's why every ad agency is looking for something new to divert our attention and get their client's product/service noticed.

Cheers.

[gratuitous]

3. So why haven't they enlisted?

Or why aren't they driving for Halliburton. As dicey as the highways of Michigan to Kentucky might be, they're pretty cushy compared to roadside bombs and mortar shells from out of nowhere. The pay's real good as long as you survive, from what I hear.

Sounds like they're giving aid and comfort to the enemy by not keeping our star-spangled, freckled-faced men and women in uniform properly supplied.

[davidthegnome]

9. Shit, that one knocked me out of my chair

"I do not rape racoon assholes with broken broom handles!"

LMAO!

[Roland99]

10. Sounds like a jab from the "Hanoi John Kerry" types

[cheezus]

13. How about "This truck uses no Arab Oil"

oh, wait...

[ComerPerro]

15. They are saying that we provide aid and comfort to the enemy

by recognizing that Bush is a drunken moron who doesn't belong in the White House.

[Cooley Hurd]

16. Covenant Transport has anti-abortion messages on theirs...

...but, with a name like "Covenant" what would you expect?:shrug:

[GiovanniC]

19. I've Seen Those

LOTS and LOTS of those.

They claim to be a "Christian" semi-truck company, which means nothing to me except maybe that all my shit will get ruined if the driver gets raptured.

[Ezlivin]

25. No, it means you can't bitch out the driver

After all, he couldn't let those pure Christian ears be tainted with the filth that poured forth from your lips after you discover his fuck up.

Remember, that Xian fish symbol is a warning sign.

[jmowreader]

29. My brother got a job working for them once

He lasted exactly one load.

He made his run, picked up the phone, called corporate and told them "the fucking brakes on this truck don't work worth a shit. I'm at (gave name of truck stop). Can I get a work order number to get them fixed?" They gave him one then told him to drive the truck back to headquarters and pick up his final check.

[hippiegranny]

17. I see quite a few "It's a Child Not a Choice"

signs on semis aound here.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. I too have seen those "It's a child not a choice"

And they offend the crap out of me!

[Lone Pawn]

31. "IT IS NOT A CHOICE IT IS A CHILD"

is the strict wording on semis, I believe. Covenant Transport would be the company that does that.

[No Exit]

20. Seen on back of semi: "Be a flirt, lift your skirt!"

Or "Complaints about the driving? Call 1-800-E-A-T-S-H-I-T."

Showing us the high level of intellect which is usually behind the wheel of the big rigs...

[WLKjr]

23. Not all are idiots

Got to watch how you stereotype truckers, I know quite a few that are pretty smart, just like to drive trucks for a living. And quite a few are pretty Blue.......

[No Exit]

26. I know a little something about stereotyping...

...being a lawyer.

Evil, dishonest, thieving, rotten, trying to rob innocent people (corporations), driving up the cost for all average citizens, etc. Yup, that's us lawyers.

Frankly, my barb was aimed more at the freeper-esque attitude of those bumper stickers, than at the truckers themselves. I know some truckers, too. The ones I know happen to be southern white males. There was a time when such a person was almost always "blue". But nowadays he is just as likely to claim allegiance to republicans.

Anyone who really tries to think deeply, who really tries to figure things out, will probably come to the conclusion that, of the two major parties, it is the democrats who are the real friends of working people.

BTW, those bumper stickers I described were things I actually saw on trucks. I myself was not offended by them, but you must admit, the humor was a bit crude.

[WLKjr]

22. You see them too?

I have to drive from Lima to Dayton 3 times a week and see at least 1-2 every time.

[Ms. Clio]

24. I saw that one here in Dallas a few weeks ago

I thought it was just typical Texas jingoism, but apparently not.

[hatrack]

27. We support our troops by filling our trucks with Saudi oil . . .

Or was it from Kuwait? Maybe from Oman or Iran. Gosh, just can't remember - those countries all blur together after a while.

[qnr]

28. ummmm "Our American Troops"??

Guess they don't support Our Costa Rican Troops or something. Or maybe, with NAFTA, they don't support Our Canadian Troops or Our Mexican Troops .

[AngryOldDem]

30. I live along that stretch of road

and I've never seen that on trucks. I've seen a lot of ostentatious religious slogans and flags, but nothing like this. But I'm not surprised.

Not to change the topic, but what I find odd are the signs that say "We hire only courteous and safe drivers." As opposed to, what? Rude and unsafe drivers? Shouldn't THAT go without saying?